Tai chi better than strength training

Parkinson's patients use Tai Chi more than therapeutic weight training

11/03/2012

According to a study by the Oregon Research Institute in Eugene, Oregon, regular Tai Chi training in patients with Parkinson's reduces the incidence of falls. The accompanying tai chi therapy proved to be more effective in a research work than previously thought and even showed better results during the course of the study than conventional physiotherapy.

Chinese shadow boxing (Taijiquan, or Tai Chi for short) seems to provide Parkinson's sufferers with a more effective therapeutic benefit than physiotherapy strength training, as new US researchers have found. Although Parkinson's is incurable, patients are recommended as adjunctive therapy to physical therapy and active physical activity to delay the progression of the disease and slow down physical decline. In the present study of the American „Oregon Research Institute“ Applied tai-chi exercises were particularly effective.

Parkinson's inevitably leads to the decline of mobility
Once the disease has reached a more advanced stage, sufferers suffer from severe limitations in their mobility and impaired sense of balance. Accidents are therefore not uncommon and lead to further complications and limitations in everyday life. For this reason, the patients are usually prescribed special exercise units and physiotherapeutic therapies to strengthen the muscles. The victims should keep their independence as long as possible and on „normal life“ can participate. The traditional Asian sports such as Tai Chi or Qi Gong are known to train motor skills. Especially older people in Asia use the Chinese shadow boxes to stay fit even in old age. Several previous research has already shown that this considerably reduces the risk of accidents and injuries.

The study, led by Fuzhong Li, involved a total of 195 Parkinson's patients whose disease stage was considered as „easy to moderate“ was classified. Under the supervision of the subject, subjects were given traditional Tai Chi exercises during a period of six months and then compared with the progress of physiotherapy and a control group. Before the start of the study, the participants were divided into three equal groups. The first group did one Tai Chi lesson twice a week. During the same period, the second group completed Physiotherapeutic Physiotherapy and the third group served as a control group and only used sporadic stretching exercises.

Tai Chi increased freedom of movement and sense of balance
Afterwards all patients were examined and the results were evaluated. While the subjects in the third group were not expected to show any improvement in their mobility and even suffered from the progression of the disease worsened, the second group showed with the strength training quite positive effects. However, the Tai Chi group achieved the best results in the evaluation. On average, patients in Group One were more mobile and, for example, were able to raise and lower a chair faster and more safely. In addition, fewer crashes were reported during the study period in the Tai Chi Group. In addition, Group One participants achieved a significant improvement in the sense of balance.

Tai Chi delays Parkinson's symptoms
In summary, the scientists said, "Tai Chi helps Parkinson's patients to move independently for a longer period of time and perform everyday tasks such as getting up, walking, and walking forward." According to the researchers, however, there is another advantage: unlike physiotherapy, tai chi is more cost-effective because the participants do not need special equipment and can do the exercises at any time after learning. Basics of traditional sports are also easy to learn.

Tai Chi is not only helpful in Parkinson's. In 2011, US Harvard University determined that patients who have experienced a heart attack can significantly improve their quality of life by attending a tai-chi course at least twice a week. It turned out that those affected could increase their well-being and general self-esteem significantly, thus increasing the chances of a full recovery. (Sb)

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Image: Michael Raab